C'etait bien, Vogue Italia by Paolo Armelli

May 7, 2026

Studio Giamata in Rome: Giacomo Matarazzo Interprets Karl Lagerfeld’s Hidden Grief at the "C'était bien" Exhibition

Behind the iconic dark sunglasses and the rigid public persona of Karl Lagerfeld lay a profound, hidden sorrow. Today, Studio Giamata is honored to announce that our founder and artist, Giacomo Matarazzo, is featured in a groundbreaking new exhibition in Rome that explores this very intimacy.

From May 7 to July 30, 2026, Spazio Opis in Rome is hosting "C'était bien" (It was good), an unprecedented and deeply emotional showcase revealing a vulnerable side of the legendary fashion designer.

The Untold Story of Mourning

When Lagerfeld’s partner of 19 years, Jacques de Bascher ("Jacquot"), passed away in 1989, Lagerfeld kept his profound grief hidden from the fashion world. He shared his sorrow with only one person: Jacques's mother, Armelle de Bascher. For 25 years, Lagerfeld sent her over 600 private letters and faxes. Locked away in a French château until her death, this archive has never been seen by the public—until now.

The exhibition takes its poignant title from the very last fax Lagerfeld sent to Armelle in 2014: "It is the 25th Christmas without Jacquot. Time passes quickly. It was good."

A Journey Through Raw Emotion

Curated by Clara Tosi Pamphili and developed by Richard Mogni, the exhibition goes beyond a traditional display. Alongside around 30 original letters, midnight sketches, and vintage photographs, visitors step into a "stargate" installation—an immersive room projecting the correspondence in a continuous loop, highlighting the stark contrast between Lagerfeld’s public glamour and his private mourning.

Giacomo Matarazzo: Translating Emotion into Art

At Studio Giamata, we have always believed that art must capture visceral emotion and structural tension. It is with great pride that Giacomo Matarazzo has been selected as one of three contemporary artists (alongside Christophe Constantin and P.A.C.E.) to contribute to this historic exhibition.

Giacomo's featured works provide a powerful visual interpretation of the intense, raw emotions conveyed in Lagerfeld’s letters. Through his signature interplay of classical structure and contemporary chaos, Giacomo explores the universal themes of fear, loss, and the desperate desire to live that echo throughout the archive.

This collaboration represents a perfect synergy with the Studio Giamata philosophy: taking the deepest human emotions and translating them into tangible, powerful visual statements.

Visit the Exhibition: